10 Biggest Oscar Nominations Snubs

Apparently Dune directed itself to all those nominations?

With the Oscar nominations unveiled yesterday, it only made sense that we jump into your inbox and whine about what didn’t make it in this year. Here’s Drew and Billy’s 10 biggest snubs that missed a nomination by the Academy. You can see the full list of nominations here for the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27th. 

(If you want to hear us talk through our reactions to the Oscar nominations, we did a live Spotify Greenroom conversation last night. Click here to listen to our chat!)

Drew’s 5 Biggest Snubs

1. Denis Villeneuve (Dune) in Best Director

How does one’s movie get nominated in 10 categories but fail to earn a Best Director nod? Denis Villeneuve is a visionary blockbuster filmmaker that successfully immersed us in a beautiful sci-fi universe, but his work wasn’t impressive enough for the Academy’s famously snobbish directors branch. Oh well, maybe they will right this wrong when Dune Part II comes out in a couple years. 

2. Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza) in Best Actress

In her first ever film performance, Alana Haim (of the band HAIM) couldn’t have crushed it more than she did in Licorice Pizza. Sure, she was working under the brilliant guidance of filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, but her rollicking, complex, and alluring work as a lost 20-something in 1970s California was possibly my favorite performance of the year. I get that she was probably left out because Best Actress is a competitive category and Haim is virtually unknown as an actress, but she’s the heart and soul of this unforgettable movie. 

3. Nicolas Cage (Pig) in Best Actor

Has Nicolas Cage become a punchline to many people? Yes, and that’s probably why he was overlooked for his work in Pig this year. But the man is still capable of delivering a layered and unexpected performance. As Rob, a reclusive former chef that just wants his beloved truffle pig returned to him, Cage plays the role with a tender, grief-stricken, and heartbreaking spirit that you might not have thought possible from the screaming madman of his reputation. The Academy should be rewarding against-type performances in smaller movies like this. 

4. The Rescue in Best Documentary

Even if you know the basic details of the 2018 Thai cave rescue, The Rescue is a gripping and inspirational account of a group of idiosyncratic cave diving experts that risked their lives to do the impossible. Much like in their Oscar winner Free Solo, co-directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin lean into the personalities behind the extreme activity that we’re witnessing. With an impressive combination of recreations and actual footage, The Rescue carries you right alongside the divers as they work out how to save 12 kids and their soccer coach from certain death. 

5. The Green Knight in Best Cinematography

I would’ve loved to have seen The Green Knight in any category (Best Picture, Best Director, you name it), but the most egregious snub was its absence in Best Cinematography. Here’s a genuinely original and arresting vision of an unconventional medieval King Arthur story that was completely overlooked by the Academy. Many of the jaw-dropping images from The Green Knight will stay in my mind’s eye for a very long time. 

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Billy’s 5 Biggest Snubs

1. Jodie Comer (The Last Duel) in Best Actress

Comer had the toughest assignment this year. She needed to ground a movie that had thematic storylines that are tough to tackle and external factors that created lofty expectations. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck finally write a movie together for the first time since Good Will Hunting, Ridley Scott continues at close to 90 years old, and a story about a rape and sexual abuse (wonderfully and graciously handled by screenwriter Nicole Holofcener). This is a worthy tough watch that needs its due. Ridley Scott had two massive movies come out and both did not perform well at the box office this year. House of Gucci got the memes and The Last Duel was forgotten. Show Comer some love this year. 

2. Bradley Cooper (Licorice Pizza) in Best Supporting Actor

A man after my own heart. His performance in Nightmare Alley got him the starring role he deserved this year and Licorice Pizza perfectly understood how to utilize his talents in a short amount of time. Sexy, despicable, and charismatic are how I would describe Cooper portraying Jon Peters. He is completely enamored by sex in his every day life, but his love for it debilitates his ability to have normal interactions. What ensues is horrifying (in a hilarious way) and endlessly enticing. Director Paul Thomas Anderson uses Cooper to showcase his most “show off” moments. I won’t spoil those scenes, but not many actors deserve a nomination with such little screen time. Here, I think, Cooper deserved a supporting actor nomination.

3. Colman Domingo (Zola) in Best Supporting Actor

Zola had my favorite trailer of the year and what ensued did not disappoint. What I saw opened my eyes to the powerhouse that was Colman Domingo, a presence that was not known to me. Zola was a huge announcement. Domingo’s character is threatening while trustworthy. Confident while unpredictable. You have seen this man before, but he has never been given his due. Zola is on Showtime currently, but if you need some other recommendations go watch Euphoria or Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

4. Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffman, & Mike Mills (C’mon C’mon) for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director

I mean… c’mon… Sorry for this horrible joke to start off my plea, but when you bring such talents together and there is no love I don’t know what to think. Gaby Hoffman (Viv) anchors this story and Joaquin propels her presence forward. Here we follow Hoffman’s son, Jesse (Woody Norman), who is paired with an estranged uncle (Joaquin as Johnny) when Jesse’s father (Scoot McNairy) has to be treated for mental health issues. Hoffman anchors this story by being a quiet presence. As someone who has seen his mother protect her son through wonderful men this movie left a mark. Go check it out where you can. Mike Mills is one of our greatest living directors.

5. The whole cast of Mass - for all acting categories

The hardest watch of the year. Our title insinuates the setting is important, but our core group of four shows the setting has no importance. A group has a conversation within a Catholic church. Are you like me? When I hear “church” I expect a forced presence of being profound. The representatives of the church try to facilitate a setting that allows profound conversation, but so many decisions show that facade. The ensuing conversations that are had by every main character (portrayed by Ann Dowd, Jason Isaac, Martha Plimpton, and Reed Birney) need to be had, but our setting is not as powerful as it seems. I am rambling to avoid the plot of this movie. It is worth my confusion. Please give it a shot.